Introductory Research Methods Keywords Term One

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  • Created by: PsycSaph
  • Created on: 20-01-19 16:49
Alternative Hypothesis Difference
prediction that groups or conditions differ from each other
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Alternative Hypothesis relationship
prediction that variables relate to each other
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Alternative hypothesis
prediction that the IV causally affected the DV, resulting in differences among the levels of the IV
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Biased sample
is one in which the method used to create the sample results in samples that are systematically different from the population.
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Binary variable
Two values possible (e.g. pass/fail)
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Binominal variable
Two values possible (e.g. pass/fail)
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Balancing
variability in extraneous variables in kept the same across levels
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Cluster sample
With cluster sampling, the researcher divides the population into separate groups, called clusters.
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Confounding variable
a confounder is a variable that influences both the dependent variable and independent variable causing a spurious association.
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Counterbalancing
With counterbalancing, the participant sample is divided in half, with one half completing the two conditions in one order and the other half completing the conditions in the reverse order
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Causality
one or more variables affect one or more other variables
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Constant
Something that does not vary
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Category variables
Values without an associated quantity (non numeric)
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Continuous variables
All values in range possible (e.g. decimals)
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Census
methods for obtaining information from (all) population members
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Data
Data are sets of numbers or pieces of information obtained during research studies.
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Datum
In research a datum is a piece of information
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Demand characteristics
the results of an experiment are biased because the experimenters' expectancies regarding the performance of the participants on a particular task create an implicit demand for the participants to perform as expected.
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Descriptive statistics
employs a set of procedures that make it possible to meaningfully and accurately summarize and describe samples of data.
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Discrete variable
Limited value in range possible (e.g. integers)
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Dependent variable
Thought to be affected by the IV (depends DV)
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Deviance
difference between a score and middle of distribution
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Directional hypothesis
shows that variables differ and species how
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Difference score
measured by experimenter
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Ethics
the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research.
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Experiment
an investigation in which a hypothesis is scientifically tested
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Experimental design
the researcher manipulates the Independent Variable (or variables) to observe its effect on some behavior or cognitive process (the dependent variable) while using random assignment of participants to groups in order to control external factors from
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Experimenters effects
the ways in which an experimenter or researcher may influence the outcome of an experiment through his or her presence
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Extraneous variable
variables that you are not intentionally studying in your experiment or test.
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Factorial design
having more than one independent variable, or factor, in a study
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Field experiment
done in the everyday (i.e. real life) environment of the participants.
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Falsifiability
In order for a hypothesis to be scientific, it must have capacity to be disconfirmed
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Hypothesis
a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.
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Hypothetico-deductive research
formulating a hypothesis in a form that can be falsifiable, using a test on observable data where the outcome is not yet known.
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Hermeuntic
focus on meaning and interpretation
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Histogram
plots values of a variable on horizontal axis and number of occurrences on vertical
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Independent measures
multiple experimental groups are used and participants are only in one group.
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Inductive research
the process of making generalized decisions after observing, or witnessing, repeated specific instances of something.
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Inferential statistics
provide ways of testing the reliability of the findings of a study and "inferring" characteristics from a small group of participants or people (your sample) onto much larger groups of people (the population).
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Interval and ratio data
data which comes in the form of a numerical value where the difference between points is standardised and meaningful.
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Idiographic
focus on meaning and interpretation
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Independent measure
Thought to be the cause of an effect
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Interval
label, order and consistent unit of measure
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Integrate range
difference between medians of upper and lower halves when the scores are ranked
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Independent samples t-test
compares means from two independent samples (between pp)
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Mean
the mathematical average of a set of numbers.
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Median
the midpoint in an array of numbers
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Mixed design
used to test for differences between two or more independent groups whilst subjecting participants to repeated measures
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Mode
the most frequently occurring score in a set of given numbers
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Matched pairs design
you have different participants in two different conditions, but you match them according to certain variables, such as age, personality, gender,
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Nominal data
simply names something without assigning it to an order in relation to other numbered objects or pieces of data.
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Non-parametric tests
makes no such assumptions.
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Normal distribution
a bell-shaped frequency distribution curve.
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Nomothetic
aim of generalising, study of group, focus on psychological laws and principles
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Non-probability sample
probability of sampling population members is unknown
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Non-directional hyp
shows the variables with differ but not how
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Null hyp
prediction that groups or conditions do not differ from each other
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Opportunity sample
It consists of taking the sample from people who are available at the time the study is carried out and fit the criteria your are looking for.
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Order effects
differences in research participants' responses that result from the order (e.g., first, second, third) in which the experimental materials are presented to them
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Ordinal data
statistical data type where the variables have natural, ordered categories and the distances between the categories is not known.
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Parameter
any numerical quantity that characterizes a given population or some aspect of it.
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Parametric tests
makes assumptions about the parameters (defining properties) of the population distribution(s) from which one's data are drawn,
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Participant variable
the differing individual characteristics of participants in an experiment.
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Population
the total group of individuals from which the sample might be drawn.
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Probability
the likelihood of an event occurring.
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Prediction
Transformation of the hypothesis from conceptual to observable to enable data collection and analysis
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Probability sample
probability of sampling population members is specified
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Paired samples t-test
compared means from two paired samples (within pp)
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Qualitative research
findings are not arrived at by statistical or other quantitative procedures
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Quantitative research
research which performs mathematical modeling and statistical estimation or statistical inference or a means for testing objective theories by examining the relationship between variables.
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Quota sample
representative individuals are chosen out of a specific subgroup
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Random sample
each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected to represent the whole
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Range
A statistical measure of variance.
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Repeated measures
uses the same subjects with every branch of research, including the control.
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Ratio
label, order, consistent, unit of measure and zero indicates a quantity of none
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Representative sample
in which members of different subgroups appear in numbers proportional to size in population
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Random assignment
probability of assigning pp to each level of IV is kept the same
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Sample
the group of people who take part in the investigation.
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Sampling distribution
the probability distribution, under repeated sampling of the population, of a given statistic (a numerical quantity calculated from the data values in a sample). ... The distribution of these means is the "sampling distribution of the sample m
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Sampling error
the amount of inaccuracy that is estimated to exist within a sample population of the trait being measured.
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Self-selecting sample
participants may decline to take part and your sampling technique may turn into a self selected sample.
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Significance level
the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when it is true.
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Significant difference
there is a measurable difference between the groups and that, statistically, the probability of obtaining that difference by chance is very small
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Skewed distribution
A distribution is positively skewed, or skewed to the right, if the scores fall toward the lower side of the scale and there are very few higher scores. ... In negatively skewed distributions, the mean is usually less than the median, which is always
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Snowball sample
research participants recruit other participants for a test or study.
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Standard deviation
scores around the mean of a distribution.
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Standard error
approximate standard deviation of a statistical sample population.
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Statistic
a fact or piece of data obtained from a study of a large quantity of numerical data
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Statistical significance
the probability of some result from a statistical test occurring by chance.
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Stratified sample
a random sample in which members of the population are first divided into strata, then are randomly selected to be a part of the sample.
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Standardisation
the process of making something conform to a standard.
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Type 1 error
the rejection of a true null hypothesis
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Type 2 error
failing to reject a false null hypothesis
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Theory
Explanation of principles that is well sustained by repeated testing and explains a broad phenomenon
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Test of difference
address whether two or more samples are significantly different from each other
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T-statistic
ratio of explained over unexplained variability
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Variable
anything that can vary,
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Variance
a measure of how much values in a data set differ from the mean
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Z score
numerical value indicating how many SD a score is from the mean
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

prediction that variables relate to each other

Back

Alternative Hypothesis relationship

Card 3

Front

prediction that the IV causally affected the DV, resulting in differences among the levels of the IV

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

is one in which the method used to create the sample results in samples that are systematically different from the population.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Two values possible (e.g. pass/fail)

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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